NRL Late Mail Round 11: Brian Kelly ruled out for Gold Coast Titans

The Titans have suffered a blow ahead of their clash against the Raiders, with a star outside back ruled out with a shoulder injury. FULL UPDATED TEAMS

Newcastle suffered a major blow just hours before from their Round 11 clash with Parramatta, with State of Origin centre Bradman Best ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Newcastle were already without strike winger Greg Marzhew, who is expected to miss a month with a knee injury.

Dylan Lucas is shifted the back row to the centres, with forward Thomas Cant moving from the interchange bench to the edge.

Best, 23, is expected to miss between four and six weeks in what’s shaping as a crucial period for the Knights.

Brad Best will miss at least a month of footy. Picture: NRL Photos

Despite the NRL season entering the Origin period, the Knights do not have a bye until Round 18, meaning they’ll have to face a tricky run of matches without two of their backline stars.

After going down to the Eels, the Knights next face the Panthers and Dragons away, the Sea Eagles and Roosters at home, and then the Dolphins (away) and Raiders (home).

Although it’s understood Best, the incumbent Blues centre, was facing a battle to retain his spot in Laurie Daley’s team, his hamstring injury will rule him out of the entire Origin series.

Marzhew ‘back before you know it’

The Newcastle Knights have revealed a positive update on winger Greg Marzhew.

“He’s had some surgery on an MCL,” coach Adam O’Brien said.

“I think it was initially 4-6 (weeks), but he’s a very good healer.

“He’s very optimistic and he’s told me ‘I’ll be right for next week’, but I don’t think that’s the case.

“It’s not an extended thing, so he’ll be back before you know it.”

—Martin Gabor

Boom Tiger out long-term

The Wests Tigers have been dealt a cruel blow, with enforcer Fonua Pole set to miss up to seven weeks with an MCL injury sustained against Melbourne last Sunday.

Pole was taken from the field and didn’t return in the Tigers’ 64-0 loss, and while coach Benji Marshall was unaware of the severity of the injury post-game, this masthead can reveal the 22-year-old suffered medial damage to his knee.

In a boost for the Tigers, injured stars Latu Fainu and Jeral Skelton are both expected back after the club’s round 12 bye, both pushing to be named to play the Cowboys in Townsville.

—Tyson Jackson

Fonua Pole could miss as many as seven weeks. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

ROUND 11 LATE MAIL

BRONCOS V DRAGONS

Sun May 18th 2025, 2:00pm, Suncorp Stadium

Broncos

1. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Xavier Willison 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington

Interchange: 14. Cory Paix 15. Corey Jensen 16. Brendan Piakura 17. Fletcher Baker

Reserves: 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Josiah Karapani

Players cut: 20. Martin Taupau 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Delouise Hoeter

Late Mail: No changes in the 24-hour team update. Ezra Mam will play his first game of the NRL season in place of the injured Ben Hunt (hamstring) who is out until round 15.

Dragons

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Corey Allan 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lykhan King-Tongia 8. Jack de Belin 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Dylan Egan 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Hamish Stewart

Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 17. Blake Lawrie

Reserves: 18. Nathan Lawson 22. Michael Molo

Players cut: 19. Hame Sele 20. Lachlan Ilias 21. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Late Mail: No changes in the 24-hour team update and no further changes expected.

The Dragons have confirmed Toby Couchman (shoulder) has been ruled out until round 14.

RAIDERS V TITANS

Sun May 18th 2025, 4:05pm, GIO Stadium

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies

Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves: 19. Noah Martin 22. Danny Levi

Players cut: 18. Jed Stuart 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Trey Mooney

Late Mail: Corey Horsburgh (concussion) returns and will push for an Origin berth.

Matty Nicholson (ankle) has been ruled out for three months, with Zac Hosking switching to the edge.

Titans

1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 4. Jojo Fifita 18. Tony Francis 5. Phillip Sami 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui

Interchange: 14. Kieran Foran 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. Chris Randall 17. Josiah Pahulu

Reserves: 19. Arama Hau 20. Josh Patston

Players cut: 3. Brian Kelly 21. Harley Smith-Shields 22. Sean Mullany

Late Mail: Brian Kelly is out after failing to overcome a shoulder complaint, with Tony Francis replacing him at centre. Veteran playmaker Kieran Foran (biceps) is confirmed to return from injury.

WESTS TIGERS V RABBITOHS

Sun May 18th 2025, 6:15pm, Campbelltown Sports Stadium

Wests Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Royce Hunt 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal

Interchange: 14. Brent Naden 15. Tony Sukkar 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu

Reserves: 22. Tristan Hope 18. Heath Mason

Players cut: 19. Tallyn Da Silva 20. Solomona Faataape 21. Reuben Porter

Late Mail: No changes in the 24-hour team update.

Rabbitohs

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Jai Arrow 9. Siliva Havili 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Jye Gray 15. Sean Keppie 16. Davvy Moale 17. Liam Le Blanc

Reserves: 18. Tevita Tatola 21. Fletcher Myers

Players cut: 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Joshua Schuster 22. Jacob Host

Late Mail: No changes in the 24-hour team update. Alex Johnston (hamstring) is on track to return.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail Round 11: Brian Kelly ruled out for Gold Coast Titans